Cotter-pin.



S. S. RIDER.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. RIDER, OF'BROOKLAND, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO RICHARD-.13. MILLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CQTTEB-PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 809,492.

the opening through which it is passed to prevent rattling and vibrationand also to hold tightly together several parts when the pin is passedthrough the same.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a cotter pin, the legs of whichare oppositely wedge-shaped, the legs-being connected at one end by anoffset loop serving a retaining means for the short leg and providing aflat end for the longer leg which is adapted to he struck so as to wedgethe cotter pin in theopening, the legs being provided at their free endswith means for retaining-them in the opening.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from theiollowinr dc tail disclosure of the invention, the saunheing shown inthe accompanying sheet of drawings in which 4 Figure 1 is a sidecleation of the m|- proved cotter pin loosely inserted in the opening ina piece of metal or the like. Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing thecotter pin after being driven and secured in position in the piece ofwork. Fig'. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 disclosing a slightly modifiedform of cotter pin. Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 disclosing themodified form of cotter pin secured in position and Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of' the cotter pin of Fig. 1 as secured through a pair ofmetal plates or the like, the plates being disclosed in Section.

Referring to these drawin s, the numeral 10 designates a shaft or othersupport; hafving a diametrically extending opening therethrough for thereception of a Cotter pin in the usual manner. p

It will he seen from l io's. l and 2 of the drawing that the cotter pinof this invention is madu of a sinole ltflilll of metal if Q overturnedupon itself to provide a pair of oppositelypiedgeshapcd legs ll and 12joined at their upper or inner ends by a laterally otl'set loop 13,providing a fiat head or end 14 to the leg, 12. The loop 13 is connectedto the smaller end'of the leg 11 and, as the loop is offset laterallyfrom the legs the loop provides a stop shoulder 15 at the inner end ofthe leg lladapted for engagement with the support 10 to hold the leg 11.from moving through and out of the opening in the support. The leg, 12is considerably longer than the leg ll and extends inwardly aconsiderable distance beyond the smaller end of the leg 11 so asto'admit of the driving of the leg 12 down in the opening and againstthe leg 11 and effect arelatively great expansion of the cotter pin. Theleg 12, as shown in Fig. 1 normally has its outer or smaller ondprojecting heyoinl the outer or enlarged end of the log 11, thisextension hcing provided for the purpose of admitting the use of thecotter pin in a tight fitting opening where thelcg 12 can be driven'hutlightly into the opening. This extension, dcsigi'iated 10 in thedrawing, is adaptedto he struck with a hammer or the like and h n; m'cras shown in Fig. 2 after the cotter pin has been wedged in the support.

In the use of, this cotter pin the same is inserted in the opening inthe support 10 and the enlarged end of the leg 12 is struck with ahammer. or the like, to drive the leg' lJ'into lhc opening and hind thewedgesha-pcil logs against the walls thereof. As illt let: 1:: movesinto the opening the loop l''i.-: llz ttcnc. shown in Fig. and the stoshoulder 15 l ln'nlover at a sharp angle against the support ll). thusinsuring the retention of the log ll. As soon as the cotter pin iswedged into the opening, the extension 16 of thelongcr l0; 12 is bentlaterally and ahruptly against the support 10, as shown in Fig. 2,\vherchy to prevent the retrartion oi the leg i153 hy vibration or thelike. i

in Fig. 5 of (he drawing thenis discloscd. a pair of plates 17 and 18having an opcnin; torincd thcrcthrough in which is placed the cotterpin. \Vhen the cotter pin is wedged into this opening it is evident thatthe plates Hand 18 cannot mowor vihratc relatively to one another as theh tter pin is provided with the opp .-sitcl v wcdgrc-shapwl legs whichhind equally throughout. the c2:- tirc length of the cotter pin and thussc curclv hold both the upper and luWtl plates 17 and 18. It is thusseen that this pin may he used for various other uses than a cotter pin,such as a dowel, or any other kind of a pin.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 3 the cotter pin is givensubstantially the same form and shape as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, butadditional securing means is provided upon the free ends of the legs 11and 12 for retaining the pin in the support 10. The outer or enlargedend of the leg, 11 is provided with an extension 1-9 joined to the leg11 by a relatively narrow portion or neck 20, the extension 19 having aninner beveled or inclined face 21 formed at a greater angle to thelongitudinal axis of the leg 11 than theinner inclined face'thcreof.

- The extension 16 of the leg 12 is provided with an inner inclined orbeveled face normally bearing fiat against the beveled lace .21 of theextension 19, as shown in. Fig. 3.

' The upper end of the extension 16 provides a shoulder 22 atitsjuncture with the re duced outer end of the leg 12, shown in Figs. 3 and4, and the upper end of'the inclined face 21 of the extension 19provides a shoulder 23 by reason of the notch or cut out portion in theleg 11 in the formation of the neck 20.

In the operation of the modified form of cotter pin the head 14 of theleg 12" is struck with a hammer or the like to drive the leg. 12 intothe opening and Wedge the legs of the cotter pin therein. As the legs 12move down into the opening the extension 16" is gradually bent laterallyuntil the shoulder 22 strikes the shoulder 23 when the extension 19 isbent laterally away from the extension 16, and the lower end of "the leg12 itself is slightly bent away from the neck 20. In order to effect theequal spreading or bending of the extension 19 and the lower end of theleg 12, the neck or reduced portion 20 of the leg 11 is given athickness equal only to the thickness of the lower end of the leg' 12 sothat the resistance to the bending of the two legs at that point will beequal. t

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of-myinvention is only one form thereof, and that various changes may be madein the details of structure without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, the changes being limited only by the scope, of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is- 1. A cotter pin comprising a loop termithroughoutthe entire length of the openiereby upon the relative movement of ing wthe legs to bind the latter in the opening throughout its entire length,the free end of the driven leg being adapted to be turned over to retainthe cotter pin in the opening.

3. A cotter pin comprising a loop terminating in a pair of legs adaptedfor insertion in an opening and being'oppositely wedgeshaped or taperedlongitudinally whereby to bind the legs against the walls of the openingwhen the legs are moved relatively to one another, and projections onthe outer ends of the legs having their abutting faces inclined to theplane of the abutting faces of the legs whereby to provide a shoulder onone of the projections, the opposite projection having a notch in itsabutting face providing a shoulder for engagement against said shoulderof the first projection, where by to spreadsaid projections and securethe pin in place.

4. A cotter pin havinga pair of legs for insertion through an openingand being oppositely wedge-shaped or tapered longitudinally whereby tobind the legs against the opposite walls of the opening, and projectionson the outer ends of the legs provided with abutting faces inclined tothe plane of the abutting faces of the legs whereby to provide ashoulder upon one of the projections, the opposite projection having anotch in its abutting face providing a" shoulder therein below theshoulder-of the first projection, said legs being adapted to be movedrelatively to one another whereby said shoulders are adapted to engageand spread the projections to lock the pin in place.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

,SAMUEL s. RIDER.

Witnesses:

Geirrnnon M. S'rnoxnn, Jos. J. MAwmNNnY.

llt

